SOUTH VIETNAMESE Meaning and
Definition
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South Vietnamese refers to the citizens or nationals of the former country of South Vietnam, which existed from 1955 to 1975. Geographically located in the southern part of the Indochinese Peninsula, South Vietnam was a separate political entity that arose after the division of Vietnam in the Geneva Accords of 1954. South Vietnam was a pro-Western, anti-communist state supported primarily by the United States during the Vietnam War.
The term "South Vietnamese" describes the people who inhabited this region, adhered to its political system, and identified themselves as part of South Vietnamese society. The population consisted of various ethnic groups, predominantly the Viet majority, as well as Khmer, Hoa, and other ethnic communities. South Vietnamese society was diverse in terms of socio-economic backgrounds, religious beliefs, and cultural practices.
The term can also refer to the military and government institutions that operated within the political framework of South Vietnam. The South Vietnamese Armed Forces, for instance, comprised the military forces of the Republic of Vietnam, which battled against the communist North Vietnamese and their allies during the Vietnam War.
Following the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the reunification of Vietnam, the term "South Vietnamese" became an historical descriptor, identifying individuals, culture, and institutions associated with the former nation-state. It is a term that carries significant historical weight and serves to remember and honor the people who populated and fought for the South Vietnamese state during its existence.
Etymology of SOUTH VIETNAMESE
The term "South Vietnamese" refers to individuals or things related to South Vietnam, which was the former geopolitical entity in the southern region of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Etymologically, the term can be broken down as follows:
1. South: The word "south" comes from the Old English word "sūth", which has Germanic roots. It is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sūdho-", meaning "south".
2. Vietnamese: The term "Vietnamese" refers to the people, language, or things related to Vietnam. The word "Vietnamese" is derived from the name of the ethnic group "Việt" and the suffix "-namese", which denotes nationality or language.
